Kasman Singodimedjo, Hero of the Lengkong Battle of January 25, 1946, in Tangerang City, Raises Spirit to Welcome a Golden Indonesia
By: Dr. Ali Aminulloh, S.Ag., M.Pd.I., ME (Lecturer at IAI Al-Zaytun)
The Exemplary Lengkong: Sacrifice in the Prime of Life
Today, Thursday, November 27, 2025, the Indonesian people commemorate the Battle of Lengkong, a heroic episode that marked the history of sacrifice in Tangerang (commemorated by the City Government and the people of Tangerang every November 27).
The bloody events of January 25, 1946, are a silent testimony to the high price of independence, which was not achieved without the sacrifice of lives.
At that time, Indonesia had just proclaimed independence, but the struggle was not over. The People’s Security Army (TKR), numbering only around 80 men, led by Lieutenant Colonel M. Kasman Singodimedjo, launched a daring attack to seize weapons from the Japanese headquarters in Lengkong.
M. Kasman Singodimedjo, a prominent figure born in 1913, was an educated man who served as Commander of the PETA Battalion and later the TKR. He died along with 35 other fighters on the Lengkong battlefield at the age of 33, an age when one is at the peak of strength, vision, and potential for devotion.
The sacrifice of Kasman and the other Lengkong martyrs aligns with universal religious principles, namely the importance of steadfastness and patience in the face of adversity. In this context, we recall Allah’s words in Surah Ali ‘Imran, verse 139.
This verse provides a strong spiritual affirmation that never giving up is the fundamental character of a true warrior.
Five Core Values and the Nation’s Bargaining Position
Kasman Singodimedjo’s heroism has left us with five key lessons that we must reactualize in the context of the modern struggle towards the vision of “Golden Indonesia” 2045:
1. Loyalty and Devotion: Demonstrating boundless dedication and high integrity.
2. Wisdom and Leadership: Able to motivate and make strategic decisions amidst uncertainty.
3. Readiness for Self-Sacrifice: Sacrificing ego, time, and comfort for the public good.
4. Patriotism and Nationalism: Translating this into a love of domestic products and upholding the nation’s reputation.
5. Fortitude and Resoluteness: An attitude of never giving up in the face of crisis and disruption.
These five are a solid foundation for strengthening the nation’s bargaining position in the face of global competition. A nation whose citizens uphold integrity, perseverance in innovation, and sincere devotion will have dignity and a strong voice, and will not easily bow to foreign interests.
Two Battlefields, One Spirit of Transformation
The challenges faced by Lieutenant Colonel Kasman during the struggle contrast sharply with today’s realities, yet both demand the same essential spirit.
In the Lengkong era of 1946, the primary challenges were physical colonization and armed warfare, where threats to sovereignty were real and cost lives.
Today, the battlefield has shifted. As we approach Golden Indonesia, our challenges are economic warfare, technological disruption, an integrity crisis, and information warfare. Threats to sovereignty are now more subtle, taking the form of economic dependency, data piracy, and even divisions caused by hoaxes.
Although they manifest differently, both eras require unity, a fighting spirit, courageous leadership, and total sacrifice. While in the past, sacrifice was realized through blood, today, sacrifice is realized through dedication to lifelong learning, uncompromising integrity to resist corruption, and an unyielding spirit in innovation in our respective professional fields.
This is another manifestation of God’s call in Surah Al-Insyirah (94): 5-6, which promises, “After hardship comes ease.”
This unyielding spirit must be our capital in transforming the battlefield from a physical one to a field of intellectual, economic, and moral excellence.
If M. Kasman Singodimedjo, an educated leader, was able to sacrifice his entire life at the age of 33 for the sake of national sovereignty,
Then, at your age now, what is your role in fighting for the ideals of a Golden Indonesia today? *
Indonesia, November 27, 2025
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